DENVER: Despite having improved by seven games in 2016-17, the Nuggets still missed the playoffs for a fourth straight season. Jamal Murray, Jameer Nelson and Emmanuel Mudiay are competing for minutes at point guard. If one of the trio can take command at the point and the Nuggets can improve on the defensive end, Denver could make the leap to a playoff-caliber squad. All-Star Paul Millsap, who signed a three-year deal worth about $90 million, should fit in seamlessly with fellow big man Nikola Jokic.

LA LAKERS: The Lakers appear to be improved after the worst four-year stretch in franchise history, but only a stunning rookie season from Lonzo Ball is likely to get them anywhere near playoff contention this year. All eyes are on Ball, the heralded playmaker with the attention-grabbing father. The former Chino Hills High standout starred at UCLA for one season before becoming the second overall pick and the centerpiece of Magic Johnson's vision for an up-tempo, high-scoring Showtime offense. Magic hopes the Lakers will show enough promise this year to entice big-name free agents to Hollywood in the summer.

PREVIEW

Nuggets have playoff spot in mind facing Lakers

The Denver Nuggets enter their game at the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday in a three-way tie for eighth place in the Western Conference with 15 games remaining.

The Nuggets (37-30) have won two in a row, including a 125-116 win against the visiting Lakers on Friday. Denver enters Tuesday with the same record as the Utah Jazz and also tied in the standings with the Los Angeles Clippers (36-29), who have played two fewer games.

The Lakers (30-36) are coming off an impressive 127-113 win against the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. Even with the loss to the Nuggets last week, Los Angeles has still won seven of its past nine games. The Lakers are 6 1/2 games behind the Nuggets, Jazz and Clippers with 16 games left.

"He was pretty special," Lakers coach Luke Walton told reporters after the game. "Showed a lot of what he can do. The crazy thing is, I still think he can be better."

Randle seemed to agree.

"It was something I always knew I could do," Randle said. "Just take time to continue to learn the game, continue to grow and develop as a player, as a person. Something I knew I could do. I'm not surprised but it feels good I guess."

A key matchup to watch against the Nuggets is Denver center Nikola Jokic against Los Angeles center Brooke Lopez.

Jokic is coming off his seventh triple-double of the season, totaling 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in 30 minutes against Sacramento.

"Every time he does something, it's amazing," Denver forward Wilson Chandler said of Jokic. "But, it's kind of expected."

Lopez has scored at least 20 points in three straight games for the first time since the first three games in November. He scored 29 points in the loss to Denver last week, converting 12-of-18 shots.

Jokic played his first full game against Los Angeles this season and totaled 21 points, six rebounds and six assists.

Lopez also got the better of Jokic in their first meeting on Nov. 19, mainly because Jokic and Malone were ejected in the second quarter after Malone walked on the court while the ball was in play to object a no-call on Jokic, who was also ejected after joining the argument.

Lopez took advantage of Jokic's absence to score 21 points in the 127-109 win by Los Angeles at Staples Center.

The Nuggets and Lakers met two weeks later in Denver and Jokic didn't play after spraining his ankle two days earlier. Lopez scored 15 points in the 115-100 win by the Nuggets.